Method and apparatus for applying aggregating sampling

A method of aggregate sampling products conveyed in a product stream, the method comprising:

• positioning an aggregate sampler adjacent the product stream, the aggregate sampler comprising a mobile frame supporting a guide having a guide surface and a sampling surface supporting one or more sample sheets, wherein the mobile frame comprises one or more wheels or one or more pads coupled to a lower end to facilitate moving the mobile frame between differing locations and/or differing product streams;
• contacting a plurality of products in the product stream with the one or more sample sheets, thereby obtaining an aggregate sample of the plurality of products of the product stream;
• removing the one or more sample sheets from the aggregate sampler;
• and
• testing the one or more sample sheets for a target analyte.

A method of aggregate sampling products conveyed in a product stream, the method comprising:

• positioning an aggregate sampler adjacent the product stream, the aggregate sampler comprising a mobile frame supporting a guide having a guide surface and a sampling surface supporting one or more sample sheets, wherein a height of the guide surface and the sampling surface is adjustable with respect to the mobile frame;
• contacting a plurality of products in the product stream with the one or more sample sheets, thereby obtaining an aggregate sample of the plurality of products of the product stream;
• removing the one or more sample sheets from the aggregate sampler;
• and
• testing the one or more sample sheets for a target analyte.

A method of aggregate sampling products conveyed in a product stream, the method comprising:

• positioning an aggregate sampler adjacent the product stream, the aggregate sampler comprising a mobile frame supporting a guide having a guide surface and a sampling surface supporting one or more sample sheets;
• dispensing the one or more sampling sheets from a cartridge containing a plurality of sampling sheets mounted on the aggregate sampler;
• contacting a plurality of products in the product stream with the one or more sample sheets, thereby obtaining an aggregate sample of the plurality of products of the product stream;
• removing the one or more sample sheets from the aggregate sampler;
• and
• testing the one or more sample sheets for a target analyte.

A method of aggregate sampling products conveyed in a product stream, the method comprising:

• positioning an aggregate sampler adjacent the product stream, the aggregate sampler comprising a mobile frame supporting a guide having a guide surface and a sampling surface supporting one or more sample sheets;
• securing the mobile frame to a bin by a bin support of the mobile frame, the bin support being below the guide surface so that the bin receives the products passed along the guide surface before receiving the products in the bin;
• contacting a plurality of products in the product stream with the one or more sample sheets, thereby obtaining an aggregate sample of the plurality of products of the product stream;
• removing the one or more sample sheets from the aggregate sampler;
• and
• testing the one or more sample sheets for a target analyte.

A method of aggregate sampling products conveyed in a product stream, the method comprising:

• positioning an aggregate sampler adjacent the product stream, the aggregate sampler comprising a mobile frame supporting a guide having a guide surface and a sampling surface supporting one or more sample sheets, wherein the guide surface comprises a sampling conveyor that is configured to move with respect to the mobile frame;
• conveying the products by the sampling conveyor to a sampling surface of the one or more sample sheets;
• contacting a plurality of products in the product stream with the one or more sample sheets, thereby obtaining an aggregate sample of the plurality of products of the product stream;
• removing the one or more sample sheets from the aggregate sampler;
• and
• testing the one or more sample sheets for a target analyte.

A method of aggregate sampling products conveyed in a product stream, the method comprising:

• positioning an aggregate sampler adjacent the product stream, the aggregate sampler comprising a mobile frame supporting a guide having a guide surface and a sampling surface supporting one or more sample sheets, wherein the one or more sample sheets comprises a roll of microbial sampling material that is configured to rotate about an axis substantially parallel or perpendicular to a flow path of the products along the guide surface;
• contacting a plurality of products in the product stream with the one or more sample sheets, thereby obtaining an aggregate sample of the plurality of products of the product stream;
• removing the one or more sample sheets from the aggregate sampler;
• and
• testing the one or more sample sheets for a target analyte.

A method of aggregate sampling products conveyed in a product stream, the method comprising:

• positioning an aggregate sampler adjacent the product stream, the aggregate sampler comprising a mobile frame supporting a guide having a guide surface and a sampling surface supporting one or more sample sheets, wherein the guide further comprises side portions disposed on opposing lateral sides of the guide surface to facilitate passage of the products along the guide surface and over the one or more sample sheets;
• contacting a plurality of products in the product stream with the one or more sample sheets, thereby obtaining an aggregate sample of the plurality of products of the product stream;
• removing the one or more sample sheets from the aggregate sampler;
• and
• testing the one or more sample sheets for a target analyte.

A method of aggregate sampling products conveyed in a product stream, the method comprising:

• positioning an aggregate sampler adjacent the product stream, the aggregate sampler comprising a mobile frame supporting a guide having a guide surface and a sampling surface supporting one or more sample sheets, wherein the guide comprises a chute and the guide surface comprises an inside surface of the chute;
• contacting a plurality of products in the product stream with the one or more sample sheets, thereby obtaining an aggregate sample of the plurality of products of the product stream;
• removing the one or more sample sheets from the aggregate sampler;
• and
• testing the one or more sample sheets for a target analyte.

A method of aggregate sampling items conveyed in a stream, the method comprising:

• positioning an aggregate sampler at a discharge of a conveyance system;
• attaching one or more sampling sheets to a guide supported by a mobile frame, wherein the mobile frame comprises one or more wheels or one or more pads coupled to the lower end to facilitate moving the mobile frame between differing locations and/or differing product streams;
• conveying items with the conveyance system so that a plurality of items contact the one or more sampling sheets after discharge from the conveyance system;
• removing the sampling sheet after the items are conveyed;
• and
• testing the sampling sheet and associating a result with the items conveyed.